Garment



(No Model- R. E. LOWE.

GARMENT.

Patented Jan. 4

PATENT FFlCE.

ROBRT E. LOWE, OF BROOKLYN, NEWT YORK.

GARNI ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,893,l dated January 4;, 1898.

Application filed June 30, 1897. Serial No. 642,955. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT E. Lown'a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is designed as au improve ment in that class of garments which relate more particularly to loose front garmentssuch as wrappers, waists, and the like-to be worn by ladies.

IvIeretofore the objection made to readymade articles of this class was that an article of a given size could not be made to iit the form closely and had no means of adjustment. Thus a garment of a given size would fit the waist of some persons rather loose,while others it would iit somewhat tight. To overcome this objection, I have provided an improved larticle in which the lining or undergarment can be adjusted to the size of the waist, so that the lining will iit closely to the form. The lining is preferably provided with stays which give to the wearer in a measure the support to which she is accustomed from the corset, so that the corset need not be Worn when this garment is in use, which is quite an advantage during the heat of the summer. The rear or back of the lining is attached to the garment in any preferred manner. The lining then forms an independent front from that of the outer garment and the free edges are joined together in any suitable manner. In the lower edge of the free front part of each side or half of the lining an incision is made which, by the aid of Vthe tightening or holding means, allows the adjustment to a certain extent of the waist.

Another feature of this invention is the provision whereby the lining and loose front of the garment can be held in a desired position by the same tightening means. The advan- Waist-line.

too tight and the other too loose, or vice versa, they must necessarily be of the same diameter at the waist-line,as the same tightening means regulates the size of both. This tightening means consists, preferably, of two lacingcords, one on each side of the central divisionline between the halves of the lining or undergarment. One end of the cord is fastened to ,the upper edge of the incision made in the undergarment and then laced through suitable eyelets provided on the sides of the incision tothe base of saidincision. From thence it is carried to a sheath or casing on the waistline of the outer garment and serves the purpose of a shirring-string. It will be seen that when the two cords are united or tied together it will allow the undergarment toexpand or contract until it reaches substantially the same diameter at the waist as the outer garment 5 and the invention further consists in the combination and construction of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to fully understand my invention, I have illustrated the preferred em bodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, referring to which Figure I is a front elevation with portions of the outer garment thrown back. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Fig. l.

Likeletters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures of the drawings, re` ferring to which- A represents the outer garnicht, of anysuitable material.

B is the undergarment or lining, which is fastened to the outer garment A at suitable points, preferably at the back or at the sides of the garment A; but the back portion of the undergarment may be dispensed with, if desired. The free ends of the undergarment or lining B are joined at l2 in any suitable manner. At the front portion of this lining, on each side, near the free ends, a longitudinal incision O is made, which may be provided with suitable stiflening means or stays c, such as whalebone. -On either side of the incision are provided means, preferably eyelets d, whereby a lacing-cord D can be operated to draw the parts together.

0n the under side of the outer garment A,

IOO

i cord.

along the waist-line, is provided a sheath or casing E, through which is passed the lacing cord D, which cord then acts as a shirring- If desired, in lieu of the sheath the cord may be run through the fabric in the usual manner. Thus the cord D acts as a lacing-cord for the lundergarinent B and a shirring-cord for the outer garment A.

The cords D on both sides of the lining are drawn until the waist of the undergarment or lining B assumes the correct position tofit lthe wearer. The cord,havin g previously been passed through the sheath or casing E, is drawn tight and tied. If the outer garment is too full at the waist for the undergarment B, the cord will allow the waist of the undergarment to expand until it assumes a position corresponding to that of the outer garment, whereby they are both placed under the same tension.

In order to either loosen or tighten the garment or to remove the same from the person, it is not necessary to withdraw the cord from the sheath or casing.

Supporting-stays may be provided in the undergarmeut or lining section at suitable distances between theincisions and the points of attachment to the back of the outer section.

It is thought that the operation and advantages of my improvements will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As a new article of wearing-apparel, a garment having its lining provided with the incisionsy inthe loose front portions thereof, suitable casings .on the front of the garment proper, and continuous draw cords laced across the incised lining and extended through the casings of the garment, said cords adapted to be united together and serving to draw the lining and the garment proper simultaneously around the wearers waist, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of wearing-appareh a garment provided on the front thereof with the cord guides or casings, a lining or undergarment united to the garment proper and having the incisions and the stays in the unconined edges of the loose sides thereof, and draw-cords each attached at one end to the lining or undergarment, laced. across the incisions thereof, and extended through the guides or casings; said cords adapted to be tied together and serving to simultaneously adjust the lining and' the garment proper around the Wearers waist, substantially as described. e

In testimony whereof I afx my signature Ain presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT E. LOWE. Witnesses M. A. Frrzennnnn, RICHARD H. I'IAYs. 

